Hazard Bentley III of Charlotte said a ‘lucky for life’ feeling makes him a regular player of the Lucky For Life game, and that led to his win on Dec. 4 of the game’s second prize, $25,000 A Year For Life.

Bentley, 53, thought twice Monday about which would be better for him and his family - $25,000 a year every year for the rest of his life or a lump sum of $390,000 - but decided the cash was what was needed right now. He said he has two daughters who he wants to see go to college.

“Send the kids to school,” Bentley said. “It’s just enough to send the kids to school.”

Bentley bought his lucky ticket the same day of the drawing at the Harris Teeter on West Mallard Creek Church Road in Charlotte. When he saw he had matched five of the six numbers in the drawing, he didn’t know what to think.

“I was stunned, and in disbelief,” said Bentley, who stays at home to care and school his special needs daughter. “I had to scan it again, and then I started shaking like a leaf.”

After federal and state tax withholdings, Bentley took home $271,053. He says he might also use some of the money to take his family on a vacation where they can do some scuba driving.

So far, two North Carolinians have won the top prize, $1,000 a Day For Life, and 13 have won the second prize. In all there are 10 ways to win a prize playing Lucky For Life.

Ticket sales from games like Lucky For Life make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.